Improvement in curtain-fixtures



G. C. MATHERS. Curtain-Fixture.

No. 213,917. Patented April I, 1879.

NJEI'ERS. PNUTO-LITHOGRAEdER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

GEORGE G. MATHERS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,917, dated April 1,1879; application filed January 2, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEO. G. MATHERS, of Louisville, county of Jefferson,and State of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements inCurtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification:

Myinvention relates to an improvement upon that class ofcurtain-fixtures in which the curtain is held in position by an endlesscord; and, instead of endeavoring to keep taut and take up the slack ofthe endless cord by means of a rack-pulley, as is usually done, I simplyform a running loop inthe endless cord around the roller end, and thatloop is drawn down with su fficient force to afford the requisitetension to the body of the endless cord by means of a tightening-cordprovided with a pulley and spring at the upper end, and fastened at thelower end by a device which I will call a cordholder, which will behereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents anelevation of a window and acurtain with my improvement in use; Fig. 2, a perspective view of a partof a fixture embracing my improvement, and Fig. 3 another view of thesame.

A indicates the rollerend G, the cord-holder; D, a thumb-screw, turningin hole H E, the tightening-cord; F, the spring; G, the tightening-cordpulley and frame 5 b, the running loop of the endless cord B.

The lower end ofthe ti ghtenin g-cord E passes down through a hole inthe body of the cordholder 0, which is fastened to the facing of thewindow, and the thumb-screw 1), when turned into the screw-hole H,presses the lower end of the cord E, and will hold it against thetension of the endless cord.

The holder is provided with a pulley-shaped projection, as shown, forthe endless cord to move around when the curtain is to be raised orlowered, and by means of the thumb-screw D, when the tighteningcord isdrawn down with the hand to cause the desired tension of the endlesscord upon the roller end, it can be securely held to that adjustment.

The pulley G promotes smooth running of the cord in loop I), and thespring F secures a uniform tension of the cord, and by its automaticaction takes up any slack that may be in it, so that any hitching or jamming is avoided in the raising or lowering of the curtain, and bymeans of the tightening-cord tension on the running loop may beadjusted, as desired.

In the cord-holder, instead of the thumbscrew, an eccentric wheel orlever might be used to hold the tightening-cord; but I prefer thethumb-screw used as shown and described.

The tension of the endless cord can be adjusted, as and wheneverdesired, by means of the tightening-cord.

The lower end of the spring itself might be stretched down and fastenedsimply by a nail to the facing of the window; but in that case it wouldbe difficult to adjust the tension, and I therefore prefer the tightening-cord and the device for holding the lower end of the same, sothat it can be easily regulated and adjusted as desired.

The cord-loop might be formed in substantially the same way around asimple knob attached to the casing below, and the loop stretched upwardinstead of downward, as is shown in the drawings. I prefer thearrangement that I have described and shown, because the loop, pulley,and spring are at the top of the window, are less seen, and are'out ofthe way.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the design of myinvention has been accomplished in the production of a fixture by meansof which a curtain can be raised and lowered with an even and smoothmotion, and can be held at any point of adjustment without other meansof fastening than the simple friction of the cord uponits pulleys.

What I claim as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-- 1. The tightening-cord E, in combination with andadapted to adjust the tension of the loop b of the endless cord B, andkeep it taut, when held at its lower end, substantially as described andset forth.

2. The endless cord B, formed into a runnin g loop, I), in combinationwith the pulley G and spring F, adapted to secure uniform action andelastic tension of the endless cord B, substantially as described andset forth.

3. The cord -holder 0, having the pulleyshaped projection or knob shown,the thumb I citing-cord E, and the tightening-cord itself, screw D, andits screw-hole II, and the Yertil the whole adapted to hold the maincord B cal hole shown for the tightening -cord E, i down upon the rollerend, and to hold down adapted to hold the main cord 1; down upon with aneasily-adjustable tension the tightenthe roller end, and at the sametime hold the ing-cord E, substantially as described and set saidtightening-cord to any point of adjustforth. ment desired, substantiallyas described. l 4. The combination of the cord-holder 1 having thepulley shaped projection or knob \Yitnesscs: v

GEO. C. MATIIERS.

shown the thumbscrew 1), and its screw-hole A. M. SToL'T, II, and thevertical hole shown for the tight- M. 'l. McKELntx.

